- Target:
- United States Food and Drug Administration
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.gmhc.org
Currently, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) excludes men who have had sex with another man anytime since 1977, the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, from donating blood. This policy has been in place since 1992, when it was revised from a lifetime ban.
In December of 2014, the FDA released a statement that the policy will be reevaluated for the ban on men who have sex with other men (MSM) leaning toward a one year deferral period. This is, however, far longer than the period of 23 days after infection when HIV tests can detect the virus.
In the best interest of avoiding blood supply contamination, the FDA should consider the addition of deferrals for high-risk behaviors; such as lack of safe sex practices or high number of sexual partners. Maintaining a ban on MSM while ignoring others at high risk for HIV is discriminatory and excluding a social group as opposed to a high-risk behavior.
We, the undersigned, believe the MSM ban is discriminatory and move that the FDA reevaluate their blood deferral policies. We believe the MSM ban should be removed, and for the safety of the blood supply, that deferrals on high-risk behaviors be considered as opposed to those against social groups.
We are aware of the correlation between HIV and this social group, however we believe evaluation of high risk behaviors would be more successful at maintaining a safe blood supply.
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The Reevaluate U.S. FDA Blood Donation Deferral Policy petition to United States Food and Drug Administration was written by Jessica Vanderpoel and is in the category Health at GoPetition.